Auricular Acupuncture Benefits: What is the NADA Protocol?
Overview of the NADA Protocol
The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) came up with an auricular protocol called NADA. There are many auricular acupuncture benefits, the reason it is used to help with trauma, substance misuse, abuse, dependence, and related behavioral and mental health conditions that don't fit into a singular model of treatment.
NADA acupuncture is a type of treatment to help fight addiction. It uses needles on up to 5 spots on the ear. Lots of people have used it since the 1970s and now lots of health professionals believe it is a good way to treat substance abuse. According to various studies, people who use auricular acupuncture often feel better, have fewer cravings for drugs, and have fewer physical problems.
Five Points of Auricular Acupuncture:
Sympathetic – Helps with the body's nervous system. It has a calming effect on the inside of your body and helps blood vessels open up.
Shen Men – Can help calm your brain and make you sleepy.
Kidney – Makes you feel less tired and can help with headaches.
Liver – This can make your liver work better and reduce inflammation in it too.
Lung – Connected to pain relief, and sweating conditions, and can help with breathing issues too.
The NADA protocol includes using sterilized disposable needles on specific areas of the five points presented above. In certain cases, this is usually done every day for about half an hour to 45 minutes in groups. It may also include sticking seeds or beads on certain parts of the ear, like Shen Men and Reverse Shen Men.
History of the NADA Protocol
Origins of NADA in Acupuncture Treatment
In the 1970s, Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx used acupuncture to help with a public health crisis. Back then, there was a lot of heroin use and not enough treatment centers to help people. A doctor from Hong Kong found that if they put electricity on certain points of the ear it helped people stop using heroin. The Acupuncture Recovery Center found that it worked even better if you poked needles in those same spots and it also helped people stop drinking alcohol.
The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association was created in 1985 to teach people the same way of treating patients and training practitioners. NADA is a non-profit organization that helps communities stay healthy by using an auricular acupuncture protocol for behavioral health, addictions, mental health, and emotional trauma caused by disasters. NADA works to make sure it's easy for people to get help with their problems by applying an integrative medicine approach to help people with these issues.
Acupuncture for addictions started in public health programs and community settings. One caregiver can treat up to 20 people in an hour. This treatment can be used in all stages of recovery from addiction and also after a disaster has happened.
Benefits of the NADA Protocol
The NADA protocol was originally used to help people with addictions. After the attacks on 9/11, it was found to be helpful for people who had been through a very scary event. It worked because it didn't involve talking, which helped people relax and sleep better. This auricular acupuncture treatment is said to also have worked after Hurricane Katrina and Rita in 2005.
Below is a list of benefits of auricular acupuncture treatments that have been observed in human subjects over the past four decades:
Addiction treatment – this treatment was initially employed to treat people with addictions. It can reduce cravings and make it easier to stop using drugs or alcohol.
Mental health - acudetox treatment can help people who are feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed. It may also help with sleep conditions such as insomnia.
Behavioral health – the NADA protocol is a type of care that can help people be more aware of themselves and make better decisions, by lowering impulsive behaviors.
Mood regulation – this treatment is known for helping people regulate their moods and emotions, helping them to feel calmer.
Chronic pain relief – ear acupuncture can also help with pain management by reducing inflammation in the body.
As mentioned prior, auricular acupuncture today has become more popular as it is implemented in an integrative medicine approach. It has grown in popularity due to its efficacy and convenience when treated.
How is a NADA Treatment Conducted?
Sterilized disposable needles are typically used during a NADA treatment, and the needles are inserted into five specific points in each ear. The process is said to help balance out energy by creating an environment where the brain can relax more easily. During a NADA session, patients typically experience deep relaxation that helps aid in reducing stress levels and providing pain relief. Although typically done in a group setting, as this treatment was developed to offer medical support to large groups of people, ear acupuncture treatments can also be done on an individual basis by licensed acupuncturists.
Who Can Benefit From Following the NADA Protocol?
As mentioned prior, auricular therapy is helpful for many things, like reducing pain and calming your mind. It can also be used to treat allergies and infections, control endocrine system problems, and manage chronic diseases and functional disorders. It even helps with withdrawal symptoms. Furthermore, it can benefit anyone suffering from any of the following conditions:
Drug addiction
Obesity
Gambling problems
Alcohol, tobacco, or other substance abuse
Migraine headaches
Chronic pain
Emotional trauma (ex: disaster relief setting)
Allergies (ex: asthma, seasonal allergies, colitis)
Infectious diseases (ex: pneumonia, Bell’s palsy, bladder infection)
Functional disorders (ex: IBS, irregular heartbeat, sexual dysfunction)
And many more
Before trying out your first session of ear acupuncture treatment we highly encourage you to look for local community treatment programs such as AcuMantras. In addition, no matter your health problems you should always consider getting treatment from a licensed acupuncturist or medical support professional.
What is AcuMantras? How Do We Treat With Auricular Acupuncture?
At AcuMantras we want to help people be healthy and happy. We do this by teaching people about oriental medicine, like acupuncture, and other healing activities from East Asia. One of these is community acupuncture, in which varying on the case of the patient, auricular acupuncture may be employed.
Auricular acupuncture in a safe community setting is a good way to help with stress, pain, insomnia, fatigue, obesity, headaches, autoimmune symptoms, and much more. It is an effective non-pharmaceutical approach to medical treatment. Instead, it uses needles put into certain points of your body, such as the ear, to get your blood flowing. This helps your body to heal naturally by improving oxygenation and circulation so that it can begin to repair itself.
At AcuMantras we have licensed acupuncturists with training in auricular acudetox, which follows the NADA protocol guidelines. Each treatment is tailored to the individual. Your licensed acupuncturist at AcuMantras focuses on providing a safe, supportive environment for individuals and their families to start their journey toward recovery, health, and well-being.
Evidence in Support of the Use of NADA Protocol
AcuMantras Plantation:
AcuMantras Wilton Manors:
The following evidence supports how clinically effective the NADA protocol can be in treating patients with various health issues such as substance abuse, emotional trauma, stress, anxiety, and others.
NADA Ear Acupuncture: An Adjunctive Therapy to Improve and Maintain Positive Outcomes in Substance Abuse Treatment
PubMed: National Library of Medicine | Kenneth Carter, Michelle Olshan-Perlmutter, Jonathan Marx, Janet F. Martini, and Simon B. Cairns. Scott J. Hunter, Academic Editor
The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol, auricular acupuncture to support patients with substance abuse and behavioral health disorders: current perspectives
PubMed: National Library of Medicine | Elizabeth B Stuyt and Claudia A Voyles
NADA Protocol for Behavioral Health. Putting Tools in the Hands of Behavioral Health Providers: The Case for Auricular Detoxification Specialists
PubMed: National Library of Medicine | Elizabeth B Stuyt, Claudia A Voyles, and Sara Bursac
A systematic review with meta-analysis: Traditional Chinese tuina therapy (inluding Auricular Acupuncture in combined treatment) for insomnia
PubMed: National Library of Medicine | Zheng Wang, Hui Xu, Hang Zhou, Yang Lei, Lulu Yang, Juan Guo, Yuxia Wang, and Yunfeng Zhou
Ear Acupuncture according to the NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association)
PubMed: National Library of Medicine | Gerhard Litscher
NADA Protocol Integrative Acupuncture in Addictions
Journal of Addictions Nursing & Volume 25 & Number 4, 182-187 | Kenneth Carter, MD, MPH m Michelle Olshan-Perlmutter, PMHCNS-BC, FNP-BC